On Sunday, November 10, the Rochester Historical Society Museum at 355 County Road will be open from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The exhibit will be open as well as the shop. It’s a good time to shop for Rochester gear to give for Christmas presents. No crowds and a way to help out your local historical society.
On Monday, November 11, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club will continue their tradition of honoring veterans by ringing the bells at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. The church bells will ring on the morning of November 11 to mark the formal ending of the Major hostilities of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The Woman’s Club urges everyone to listen to the bells and take a moment of silence to remember what they stand for. If you would like to join the MWC for this event, you are welcome to come gather with the club outside the Congregational Church at 11:00 am.
The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is a civic, social, educational, and philanthropic organization. Membership is always open to local women who are interested in the objectives and mission of the organization. For more information or questions please contact info@mattapoisettwomansclub.org.
Silas D. Coellner, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Jr. High School, announces the following Students of the Month for September 2024.
Green Team: Isabel Bodeau and John Redler
Orange Team: Jason Bastoni and Esther Smith
Blue Team: Drew Gaspar and Elliot Jacobsen
Red Team: Elowyn McCarthy and Liam Kratochvil
Exploratory Team: Molly Morgan and Avery Carlson
The Bulldogs defeated Hanover 3-0 on November 3, and advanced to the round of 16. Set scores were 25-12, 25-12, and 25-17. Freshman Erin Root had 11 kills and was named the player of the game.
Boys Soccer
Old Rochester beat Norton 3-0 in their first post-season matchup on November 4 and won 3-0.
By Aiden Comorosky
The Marion Department of Public Works, through the Contractor Primetime Development Inc., will begin construction of the Creek Road Water Main project on Monday, November 4, 2024. The duration of construction (including installation of temporary pavement) is approximately two weeks. Installation of permanent pavement will occur in the spring of 2025. The extent of the project spans the entire length of Creek Road.
Although limited public access to the roadway will be maintained, motorists can expect delays while traveling through the construction area and should seek alternate routes. Every effort will be made to minimize inconvenience to motorists.
Please note that in addition to limited access to Creek Road, the Creek Road bike path will be closed to the public starting Monday, November 4, 2024, and will reopen at the completion of construction next year. Please be advised that public access to the construction area, materials, and equipment is prohibited.
Advanced notice of planned water main and water service shutdowns will be provided to residents/businesses in the area. However, unannounced disruptions in water service due to the construction activities may occur. Therefore, it is not uncommon to experience low water pressure or discolored water during construction. If you experience discolored water, please run the cold water tap until it clears. The Water Department will make its best effort to restore water service as soon as possible.
Your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Please contact the Department of Public Works should you have any questions: 508-748-3540.
The Tri-Town Veterans Office in conjunction with American Legion Post 280 would like to extend an invitation to all to attend the Mattapoisett Veterans Day Commemoration. The event will be held Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, at the Old Hammondtown School. We will begin promptly 11:00 am and the program will last for approximately one hour.
Veterans Day is an opportunity for the people of a community to pause and say “thank you” to all those who served and those who are currently serving in the United States military. This is a great opportunity to meet veterans from your local community and learn more about their service and lives after the service.
For additional information, please contact the Tri-Town Veterans Agent, Chris Gerrior at 508-758-4100 x214 or vso@mattapoisett.net.
The November 4 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board was very brief, but decisions made on this night were critical to ongoing road work and associated storm water drainage upgrades.
Coming before the board to defend and explain the requested hearings for the removal of four trees, three Norway maples and one green ash, was Ken Motta of Field Engineering, representing the town’s Highway Department. Motta discussed the lengths taken to try and minimize the number of trees removed so that the Highway Department could open the roadway at the intersection of Pearl and Church Street. He said that drainage designs were complete and that the roadway itself needed to be a 40-foot layout.
Regarding the trees in question, Motta said one or more were diseased and needed culling, while others may suffer root damage during construction. Removal of the four was deemed “unavoidable.” Motta also pointed to ADA requirements that constrained other designs.
Sandy Hering, chairman of the Tree Committee, said, “I question a 24-foot road. It doesn’t allow for trees…” and she wanted to discuss the possibility of wider curb strips for tree planting. Chairman Tom Tucker truncated the discussion saying he wanted to return to the agenda and vote on the hearings after which he was willing to return to the more general discussion of roadway designs and trees.
Town Planner Victoria Alfaro said that a public hearing will be held for public input regarding ADA compliant sidewalks; date to be announced.
The board voted to remove the trees with roadway construction planned for Spring 2025.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for November 18 at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell
Paul Ciaburri is a well-known Rochester resident, not only as a member of the community, but also as a Select Board member. Less well-known is his love for all things maritime, especially those items and subjects related to the use of tugboats during times of conflict – war.
We received word that something worth sharing with a wider audience was taking place at Ciaburri’s home. When we arrived we were awe struck by what we saw. A massive, 3,000-pound tugboat propeller with a 40-foot towering gleaming white flagpole had been erected.
Digging a bit deeper, we learned that tugboats, those work horses of industry and commerce, are very near and dear to Ciaburri’s heart. Now retired from Moran Towing, a tugboat company that has been navigating the eastern seaboard assisting in the moving of goods (and military personnel and materials) since 1860, he now had time to pursue a dream of building a memorial to honor tugboat history and all who worked the boats. His deep appreciation for the work carried out by tugboats is now front and center in his own yard.
As can be imagined, it took a team of friends and various trades to pull off such a mammoth task.
There were big rigs borrowed for moving the propeller to his property, a welder to permanently fuse the propeller to its shaft, and metal workers to manufacture flagpole parts and assemble them.
And yet we hadn’t reached the historical core of the story until Ciaburri spoke of his admiration for Edmond J. Moran, long time President of Moran Towing.
Moran was a Rear Admiral in the Navy and played a pivotal role in troop movement and strategic planning for the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. His obituary in the Chicago Tribune noted that he had served in both world wars and operated the family business for some 69 years.
The obituary reads, “His most notable contribution in WWII was in supervising a fleet of 160 British, United States, Norwegian, and Dutch tugboats in a strategy that outwitted the Germans who were expecting the Allied invasion to come at an existing port. Instead, the Allies towed railroad car barges across the Atlantic and assembled large concrete docks. The tugboats towed the barges and docks to the enemy-held beaches creating an instant port for the landing of ammunition, weapons, fuel, food, and other supplies. Moran later developed a similar plan for invading Japan.”
Moran would go on to rescue Allied ships and served as Deputy Director of the War Shipping Administration as well as other senior postings.
Moran was a highly decorated veteran receiving the U.S. Legion of Merit, the Victory and Navy Commendation Medals, the European Campaign Medal, the French Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, and the Order of the British Empire.
Ciaburri said quietly and sincerely of Moran, “He was a great man.”
We think that in spite of his numerous metals and acknowledgements of his courage and capabilities, the Admiral would look upon Ciaburri’s monument with pride and appreciation. And the flag currently flying over the Ciaburri property once graced the coffin of his father-in-law Kenneth Baird, a WWII veteran.
By Marilou Newell
Local South Coast cranberry growers are one of the largest producers of cranberries in the US. Supporting the local industry and growers is the UMass Cranberry Research Station, One Bog Way, in East Wareham.
At the Sippican Woman’s Club’s monthly meeting on Friday, November 8, at 12:30 pm, we will hear from two Assistant Professors – Dr. Giverson Mupambi and Dr. Leela Saisree Uppala from the Cranberry Research Station. The research work they do is important supporting local cranberry growers, the industry, production, and the environment. By the end of October, local growers have dry and wet picked 95% of their berry crops. We all look forward to seeing those berries on our tables this Thanksgiving.
The club is famous for its Annual Holiday House Tour (HHT) which will be held on Saturday, December 7. With all-hands-on-deck, members create a much-anticipated tour of elegant, unique and famous homes and includes a delightful sugar plum tea. The HHT is the Club’s major fundraiser providing scholarships to many worthy Marion students. Other group activities include a monthly book club, game night, and walking through the village. If you’d like to learn more, go to the website, sippicanwomansclub.org.
Please accept this invitation to attend our meetings – traditionally held on the 2ndFriday of each month, beginning with a light lunch at 12:30 pm, followed by a general meeting at 1:30 pm. Our clubhouse, aka “The Tavern,” is located at 152 Front Street, P.O. 121, Marion.
The membership team will respond to your email inquiries at swc.marion@gmail.com
In a room full of residents unhappy with aspects of the plan, Rochester’s Park Commission on October 30 approved an additional donation and an additional piece of equipment for the new Gifford Park playground and signed the contract to initiate the work.
Commission Chair David Hughes began the meeting by announcing the local non-profit “Tri-Town for Protecting Children” that donated the initial $45,000 to fund the playground has chipped in another $7,000. With that money, a ‘spring net climber,’ that will be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, will be purchased and installed. The board also noted that soft rubber pathways will make every other piece of equipment ADA-compliant and accessible. “The whole design is ADA-accessible,” design consultant Cindy Marks said. “It is over ADA guidelines.”
Despite these assurances, attendees crowding the town hall meeting room were quick to pelt the commissioners with questions emphasizing their concern that this playground could be better designed if the town started with a master plan for the park.
Commission chair David Hughes argued this plan to rehabilitate the playground is long overdue and the board can add more equipment with future donations. “We’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” he said. “We’ve been held back by funding. We are doing the best we can with what we have.” The 3,649 square-foot playground’s full cost will be $81,724.68. While half of that cost is being borne by the local non-profit “Tri-Town for Protecting Children,” the other half is being paid for with the town’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.
Karen Audette, whose home abuts Gifford Park, asked the first question, “Is there room to expand the park?” She noted she takes her grandchildren to other playgrounds outside of Rochester.
Hughes said there is room for expansion and the board would consider any proposal if there were funding or donations for it.
Audette said she would love to be part of a committee to make such plans. Hughes said a Friends of the Parks-type group would be welcomed.
Others in the crowd voiced concerns that one group, “Tri-Town For Protecting Children,” was dictating what should be in the playground and the money could be better spent creating a master plan for the park and the playground. Hughes argued back that ARPA funds have to spent by the end of the year. That’s one reason this must be the plan now.
“We’re digging holes before we have a plan,” Nathaniel Reece, a candidate for Park Commission in last year’s election, complained.
“In due time,” Hughes answered. “You should put your efforts into helping with this playground. We’ve got to start somewhere.”
Reece noted he sent a multi-point email to the commission regarding his concerns of hiring a designer for a layout of Gifford Park. He would like to see a design created for current and future projects including parking layout, traffic flow, playground location, and a reserved area for a public bathroom building.
“This site plan design would help prevent us from redoing work at a later date,” Reece said in that email. “For example, if a new playground spot isn’t ideal, and it gets relocated some years from now to accommodate traffic flow design; that would be an additional cost we could prevent.” In the meeting, Hughes responded, “I don’t do emails. Call me on the telephone.”
Resident Mary McCann noted the example of the new Marion bike path, remarking that the path never had a solid design plan. That started as a a great idea has become ‘dangerous and treacherous’ in the actual form it’s taken. Hughes responded that the Gifford Playground already has been designed and engineered by a professional firm.
Resident Meredith Russo asked if the town could purchase the equipment by the end of year but then take time to design a master plan before construction begins. Town administrator Cameron Durant said the town will have one year to execute the contract with the installation company now that that contract has been signed. Durant said he would have to do more research to know the details of that type of agreement.
In related action, the commission approve notifying the select board that it is declaring the old equipment of the current Gifford playground surplus.
The Park Commission adjourned without scheduling its next meeting.
Rochester Parks Commission
by Michael J. DeCicco